Turning a WRT54G2 v1.5 into a repeater

By Grinch
in Smart Home, Network & Security

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Grinch

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Hello Neowin!

I kind of need help here. I have a WRT160N as my main router and a WRT54G2 as a spare router. I've looked around and DD-WRT and Tomato do not support the WRT54G2 v1.5.

All I really need is to make it so it can repeat a signal for me, that simple. The WRT160N is to far away to run a line to so no one suggest that please. If anyone has a solution for me, please let me know.

Thanks,

Steve

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted (edited)

Well if does not support 3rd party firmware, and the native firmware does not support repeater mode, then your out of luck.

edit: I fail to understand why people continue to buy hardware that does not support they common features.. Sell that junk on ebay to some other sucker and and buy a router that either supports the features you want natively - or purchase a router that supports 3rd party.

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Mentor

Grinch

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  • Author
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Well if does not support 3rd party firmware, and the native firmware does not support repeater mode, then your out of luck.

edit: I fail to understand why people continue to buy hardware that does not support they common features.. Sell that junk on ebay to some other sucker and and buy a router that either supports the features you want natively - or purchase a router that supports 3rd party.

For the record, it was the router Comcast gave me and I upgraded that piece of junk to a WRT160N. I'll likely just buy another and turn that into a repeater.

Thanks anyways.

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Grinch

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So you got it in some promotion they were doing when you signed up or something? Not even worth using when you get it for FREE ;) hehehehe

Comcast was trying out different router models in my area (as opposed to other areas that only offer one specific model) and that was the best of the 3 they were offering. I went to Bestbuy and bought myself a WRT160N which is all I really needed. Was hoping to get 'some' use out of the WRT54G2.

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

Well if you could wire it you could use it as just an accesspoint to extend your wireless coverage - but until it gets 3rd party support (if it does) advanced features prob out of the question.. I don't recall linksys ever really adding features to their firmware - mostly only bug fixes, etc. and as soon as next model comes out they pretty much never update past products firmware unless its a major bug ;)

Your best bet would prob get a few dollars for it - and then put that towards some hardware you can use 3rd party on.

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Grinch

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Well I went out and purchased a second WRT160N v3 and installed DD-WRT onto it (the main router is staying default linksys firmware for now though).

To give you a basic (Very basic) idea of the main router..

Model: WRT160N v3

Security: WPA2 AES

-

Now I would prefer both the repeater and the main router to keep Security on them. If you could provide simple step-by-step instructions, that'd be most helpful. I tried instructions I found online but generally when I connected to my 'repeater' it was throwing DNS errors.

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Grinch

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Here are the instructions for setting up dd-wrt as a repeater.

http://www.dd-wrt.co...reless_Repeater

Those were the first instructions I tried. Didn't seem to accomplish much with them. :|

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted (edited)

Well you prob did it wrong then ;) Are you looking to setup repeater more or WDS

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/WDS_Linked_router_network

You might want to check the forums -- bridge mode/repeater mode, etc. might have issues with WPA2??

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Grinch

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  • Author
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Well you prob did it wrong then ;) Are you looking to setup repeater more or WDS

http://www.dd-wrt.co..._router_network

Would the main router having WPA2 Personal as security cause any issues?

I want a repeater, my goal is to get the signal further into my house so I may enjoy the sweet bliss of WiFi in my room.

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted (edited)

WDS does the same thing as repeater mode -- the accesspoints are tied together wireless to give you larger coverage area. And yes check the forums on the dd-wrt site there might be some issues with wpa2??

Also -- just get rid of the native firmware to be honest.. There is no point to keeping it on your device -- prob what is causing you your problem ;)

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